Westwood trenching...

Those are Thomas's feet! He likes photography....

Yes, that's a baby chick Matt is holding. We now have 12 baby chicks from Balance Rock Farm, which is around the corner. Thomas is very good with them. Nathan is more interested in scaring them. If he has anything in his hands, he likes to bang it on the cage. Thomas is always wanting to hold them. The boys finished up ice skating so took a picture with their instructor, Colleen. All the other photos are from Memorial Day weekend. We had a cake to celebrate my brother's birthday. Thomas is sitting at the table playing with cornstarch and water. The last four pictures are at cemeteries in Barre, MA where my ancestors are buried. The boys saw a parade and Memorial Day ceremony with gun shots. Now when Nathan sees the parade pictures he hollers "boom". He remembers the noise the guns made.

It's been a while since some video was shown....

I've been meaning to record here what Nathan calls Thomas: Dabus. We try not to use that name, but it sure is cute. They each call themselves by the name given by the other: Nay-nay and Dabus. Another neat thing, in pictures, they know themselves.

Here is what it's like when we take a walk: Thomas is running far ahead and Nathan is or at least it looks like, walking slower and slower behind me. Nathan doesn't hurry when he is out walking and calling out to him to hurry has no effect. I wonder what his poor teacher in school will do with him! We have a rule that we always hold hands in parking lots, so that keeps Nathan with us then. Now, Nathan likes to hold Thomas' hand whenever it's required by their Mom.

Thomas is still biting Nathan when the urge hits him. Of course it happens when I'm out of sight. So I come in, Nathan's crying, Thomas is scurrying around looking for something to quiet or distract Nathan. I've now begun to recognize that as guilty. They were hanging out in Thomas' crib and this happened. Thomas quick found Nathan's pacifier and stuffed it in N's mouth and then grabbed a stuffed animal and rubbed it on Nathan's face talking to him all the time. Little critters.

Both boys are talking in context 2 word sentences. Yesterday, Thomas told me his lunch was "too hot" and then pushed his chair away from the table like he was going to get down. Of course, when we ask them to say 2 words like "down please" they look at us and say "downpe" like they've never heard these words before even though we try every night after supper.

The boys have taken a real interest in building blocks lately. The other afternoon I found them napping together. I heard them moving around after I tucked them in. Very cute to see them sleeping together. The next afternoon, they were sound asleep in their right cribs, but both had taken off their diapers and pants. I didn't have the heart to disturb them. I just washed up their linens after. That is Thomas with the goggles on! The boys emptied one of my lazy susans and played for some time, trying to stack my kitchen items. Scary mommy on 4 wheeler.

They both count to 3 when they are playing now. I caught Nathan doing it a few days earlier with his trucks on the floor. Then yesterday they were throwing balls in the house together and Thomas was the one who was counting for them.

I'm posting a few more pictures from early April. The tractor picture is from this past week. We haven't decided which the boys enjoy more, the tractor or the 4-wheeler. We've started a little routine that Matt takes the boys out on the 4-wheeler while I make dinner. Everybody is happier!

We were sitting on the back porch eating an orange the other day. I asked Nathan to take a section over to Thomas and feed him. Thomas looked up and promptly opened his mouth wide. Nathan put the food in Thomas' mouth and told him "yum". We tell them yum all the time trying to get them to eat a little more or try something new. I thought it was cute that Nathan was trying the same tactic.

Nathan is telling us at the dinner table what he wants more of. It sure is helpful! He says "meat" and "cado" short for avocado.

The boys are learning to skate backwards! Thomas is getting it and Nathan has just started to try.